Natural fibre envelope for cross-linked and non-cross-linked hydrogel-drug conjugates: Innovative design for oral drug delivery

Recent years have witnessed growing demand for cost-effective natural bioproducts for therapeutic applications. In this work, cardamom husk was processed and turned into a protective shield for the hydrogel-drug conjugate. The seedless cardamom husk comprises of crude fibers and offers effective protection to the encapsulated hydrogel-drug matrix against degradation. Sodium alginate (SA) and gelatin were the biodegradable polymers utilized, while naproxen sodium (hydrophilic) and piperine (hydrophobic) were used as model drugs. The polymer-drug blend encased in this husk was engineered to give a long hour, zero-order release kinetics for both types of drugs. The hydrogel-drug conjugate was carefully optimized to achieve a controlled release with minimal or no use of cross-linkers. The viscosity of sodium alginate was used in such a way that the synthesis of a cross-linker free hydrogel-drug blend can be a reality. The husk was also found to be stable near sterilization temperatures. This research not only focusses on an available resource in nature but also showcases the role of modern methodology to convert this resource (cardamom husk) into a protective shield for a polymeric blend carrying drug molecules.